Health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Union has suspended its nationwide strike following a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan. The union has issued a directive that its members should resume today (Tuesday). Speaking with journalists on Monday in Abuja, National President of JOHESU, Dr. Ayuba Wabba, said that Jonathan had pleaded for time to review the demands of the health workers with a promise to implement them accordingly.

Wabba said, “On Sunday precisely by 2pm, Mr. President personally intervened and called a meeting of the union and the issues were reviewed and commitment were made firmly by him. “As the last authority, we have no doubt that those commitments will be met and he made a passionate plea to us. He pleaded with JOHESU to suspend the action and allow him the period to consider all the issues and dispense with them.

“As responsible people, we had a meeting to review the issue and the plea of Mr. President and we have come to the conclusion that having reached that level and having shown enough commitment and the demonstration of his goodwill, we then have no option than to suspend the strike action and direct our members to resume work immediately.”

Wabba added that the President gave commitment that “no member of the union will be victimised in any form.” The health workers embarked on strike on November 12, 2014 over government’s refusal to implement its agreement concerning welfare of health workers. The union had recently advised members to gird their loins “for a long drawn battle,” vowing that it would not call off the strike until government accedes to its demands.